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- Talk
- UK
Was it Safe to Perform Surgery on Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Results from the Multicentre BOOS Study
Description
The presentation begins with introduction by Tom Cosker, an orthopedic surgeon from Oxford, who discusses a study focused on bone and soft tissue tumor patients who underwent surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to assess the incidence of COVID-19 and related mortality in this patient group, considering factors such as ASA grade and neo-adjuvant therapy. Cosker details the study parameters, including the timeline that coincides with the peak of the pandemic in the UK, and outlines the participating centers from both England and Scotland.
With a total of 347 patients included in the study, the presentation highlights key demographics and the occurrence of COVID-19 among these patients, showing that 3.5% contracted the virus while in hospital, with a notable mortality rate linked to complications stemming from higher ASA grades. Surprisingly, it was found that neo-adjuvant therapies did not significantly increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, contrary to expectations.
Cosker emphasizes the study's implications for conducting surgeries amidst the pandemic and presents recommendations aimed at minimizing risk while ensuring necessary procedures can be performed. As the session transitions into a Q&A, questions arise concerning referral rates, management strategies post-pandemic, and the emerging trend of patients reaching out directly to specialists due to difficulties accessing primary care. The discussion reflects on the changing dynamics of patient care during this unprecedented health crisis.